Upper pulling machines



pt 1955 B. F. PARRELLI 2,718,019

UPPER PULLING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zia/en 2501" Be /amm [Farm [[1 Sept. 20, 1955 B. F. FARRELL] UPPER PULLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 10, 1953 [nvenior Belg/am [n Pan's/[4' Sept. 20, 1955 B. F. PARRELLI UPPER PULLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1953 Inventor Ben 'am/z fParre/ZZ Sept. 20, 1955 B. F. FARRELL! UPPER PULLING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 10, 1953 Inventor Bey/22min Fez/re! United States Patent Ofiice 2,718,019 Patented Sept. 20, 1955 2,718,019 UPPER PULLING MACHINES Benjamin F. Parrelli, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a cor- 'poration of New Jersey Application February 10, 1953, Serial No. 336,127

10 Claims. (Cl. 12-7.8)

This invention relates to an upper-pulling machine and is particularly concerned with the provision of a novel and improved machine for use in pulling the upper of a shoeover its last.

In the manufacture of stitchdown shoes, it is a common practice for the operator of the lasting machine to pull the upper over its last by means of a so-called bench pincer, for example of the type. disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,139,613, granted on May 18, 1915 on an application filed in the name of Pearl J. Wentworth, and while holding the upper at the toe end of the shoe in position on the last to present the shoe either to a toe-molding machine or to a lasting machine in which the outflanged upper is secured to a sole member previously assembled on the last by means of staples or by stitches. A similar procedure is also followed in the manufacture of a certain type of closed-toe slip-lasted shoe, as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,566,361, granted on September 4, 1951 on an application filed in the name of the present applicant. A principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and. improved machine for use in performing such preliminary pulling of the uppers of shoes in a more efficient and effective manner.

With these purposes in view, the herein illustrated machine is provided with two grippers which are adapted to be closed on the upper materials of a shoe, at the opposite sides of the toe end of a last, in response to pressure applied by the operator through the last on operating members associated withthese grippers. More particularly, each of these grippers includes a suitably supported stationary jaw and a movable jaw pivotally mounted thereon for opening and closing movements. Formed integrally with. each of the two movable jaws is an operating arm provided with an abutment against which the. bottom of the shoe may be pressed by the operator to close the gripper on the upper materials of the shoe, previously inserted between its jaws. In accordance with a feature of this invention, the operating arms of these two grippers are arranged in crossed over relationship so that the abutments aredisposed on the opposite sides of the toe endof the shoe from their re spective grippers. In addition to their gripper-closing functions, these abutments, which have operating surfaces of limited area, also serve as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the upper materials to be pulled over the last. Thus, because of the arrangement of the two toe grippers at the sides of the toe end of the last with their respective operating abutments disposed oppositely with respect to the toe end of vthe last, the operator, by suitably manipulating the last, can readily utilize the two grippers. simultaneously or individuallyfor pulling the upper materials over the last as well as for positioning the upper materials relatively thereto.

Preferably, the herein illustrated machine is also provided with two side grippers arranged to seize the upper,

materials of the shoe on the opposite sides of the fore part of the last and adapted to be actuated by the operator, as by means of a foot treadle, to pull the upper materials down against the instep portion of the last. In order that these two side grippers may be utilized by the operator in conjunction with. the toe grippers for positioning the upper materials on the last, means including an equalizing lever and a hand lever are provided for displacing these grippers oppositely in directions extending heightwise of the last while they continue to exert, a tensioning pull on the upper materials. As already indicated, these additional grippers are actuated by the operator and, hence, at his discretion they may be left in inoperative positions when the machine is being used on shoes of a type which do not admit of the application of a pull on the upper materials at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view generally in front elevation but actually looking in the direction of the arrow H of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away to simplify the disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section, substantially on line IIIIII of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the operating elements of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of a shoe in the machine; and t Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of a shoe and illustrating an upper-holding clamp used in conjunction with the machine of this invention. 1

Referring to these drawings, the principal operating elements of the machine therein illustrated comprise two toe grippers, indicated generally by the reference characters 10, 10 and two side grippers, indicated generally by the reference character 12, 12, these grippers being mounted on a platform or table 14 which, in turn, is supported at a height convenient for an operator by means of a column 16. Each of the toe grippers includes a stationary jaw 20 which is formed integrally with a supporting arm 22 secured to a bracket member 24 by means of screws 26. This bracket member is secured to the upper surfaces of the table 14 by means of a screw 28 and this table is inclined somewhat from the horizontal, as will be apparent from Fig. 1. Pivotally mounted on the stationary jaw20 of each toe gripper, by means of a pin 29, is a movable jaw 30 and associated with each of these movable toe gripper jaws is a coil spring 32 which tends to hold the movable jaw in open position. Each of the movable toe gripper jaws has an integrally formed operating arm 34 and these two operating arms are arranged in crossedover relationship, as can be seen more especially inv Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Secured to the end of eachof these arms, by means of a clamp screw 36, is an abutment having an operating surface of relatively limited area, and for the purposes of distinguishing these abutments, the one which is associated with the left-hand toe gripper, Fig. 5, will be designated by the reference character 38L, while the abutment which is associated with the right-hand toe gripper will be designated by the reference character 38-R.

As will be apparent from Fig. 5, the two toe grippers are so disposed as to seize the upper materials of a shoe 0 S, herein illustrated as comprising an upper U and linthe last. Thus, by placing the toe end of the bottom of the shoe against the abutments 38-R and 38-L and exerting pressure thereon, the operator can cause the toe grippers to close and grip the upper materials. Thereafter, by exerting pressure on the heel end of the last, the operator may use these abutments as fulcra for causing the upper materials to be pulled over the toe end of the last in a manner which will be apparent. However, due to the particular manner in which the two toe grippers are disposed, one on each of the opposite sides of the toe end of the last, and because of the crossed-over relationship of the two gripper-operating arms so that their respective abutments are located on the opposite sides of the toe end of the shoe from their associated toe gripper, the operator is enabled to pull the upper with a high degree of discretion and effectiveness. Thus, by maintaining substantially equal pressure on the two abutments 38-R and 38-L and exerting a downward thrust on the heel end of the last, the operator can pull the upper materials seized by the toe grippers forwardly in line with the longitudinal axis of the last and downwardly around its toe end. On the other hand, by rocking the shoe slightly to one side or the other, as permitted by the limited area of the operating surfaces of the abutments, he can cause the pull to be applied to the upper materials somewhat obliquely on one side or the other of the last. In fact, one or the other of the two toe grippers can be caused to open and release its grip while the other toe gripper is utilized by the operator for applying an oblique pull on the upper materials seized by the other toe gripper. one of these different kinds of pulling actions, the operator can shift .the last, relatively to the upper materials, in order to position the upper materials on the last. Accordingly, with this toe gripper arrangement, the operafor is provided with a practically unlimited discretion in pulling the upper materials of a shoe over its last and, of course, the intensity of the pull may be readily varied by him to suit different conditions.

In pulling the upper materials of certain types of shoes over the lasts, it is sometimes desirable that the upper materials also be pulled around the sides of the last in locations rearwardly of its toe end. For this purpose, the herein illustrated machine is provided with the two side grippers 12, 12 to which reference has previously has been made. Each of these side grippers comprises a lower jaw 40 and an upper jaw 42 pivotally mounted on the lower side gripper jaws is formed integrally with an arm 44 which is pivotally mounted at its middle portion, by means of a pivot shaft 46, between the ends of two lever arms 48, 50, Fig. 4. These lever arms are, in turn, pivotally mounted on a cross shaft 52 which is associated with a block 54 supported for sliding movement on the upper surface of the platform or table 14, and are normally held in the positions shown in Fig. 2, and as determined by stop screws 56 threaded into a shelf 58 on the block 54, by means of coil springs 60, Figs. 1, 2 and 4. At their lower ends, the arms 44 are supported on the shelf 58 by means of adjustable length links 62.

Connected to each of the upper jaws 42 is a pull rod 70 and these two pull rods extend downwardly through clearance slots 72, 72 formed in the table 14. At their lower ends these rods are connected to an equalizing lever 74. Midway between the two pull rods 70, 70 this equalizing lever is secured, by means of a setscrew to a pivot pin 76 which is journaled in two upstanding cars 75, 77 formed on a trunnion block 78. This block is secured to the upper end of an operating link 70. A washer 82 is located between the lever 74 and one side of the car 77, while a friction disk 84, keyed to the pin 76, is held in engagement with the other side of this ear by means of a coil spring 86 which is interposed between this disk and a collar 88 on the pin 76. With this arrangement, the lever 74 is supported for rocking movement relatively to the block 78 but such rocking movement is possible only in response to a force sufficient to During any 3 4 overcome the frictional resistance set up between the disk 84 and the side of the ear 77. At its lower end the operating link is connected to a lever 90 which, in turn, is connected to a foot treadle 92 by means of a link 94. A coil spring 96 is adapted to hold the operating link 80, lever 90 and foot treadle 92 yieldingly in the position shown in Fig. 1 and as determined by a stop pin 98. Thus, by an initial depression of the treadle 92, the operator can cause the side gripper jaws to close on upper materials inserted therein and, then by a continued depression of the treadle, he can move the side grippers downwardly and apply a tensioning pull to the upper materials in locations on the opposite sides of the last rearwardly of its toe end. Because of the action of the friction disk 84, during such operation of the side grippers to apply a pull on the upper materials, the lever 74 is frictionally held against rocking movement so that downward movements of substantially equal extent are imparted to the side grippers. However, in order to shift the upper materials laterally of the last, the operator may wish to move the side grippers relatively to each other in directions extending heightwise of the last. For thus manipulating the side grippers, the following arrangement is provided.

Connected to one end of the lever 74 by means of a short link 100 is a hand lever 102 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket member 104. This bracket member, which is supported on one side of the column 16, comprises two straight sides 106, 106 which are joined by an arcuate portion 108. Secured to this arcuate portion is a keeper member 110 which serves, together with the arcuate portion 108, as a guide for the hand lever 102 and also to limit the extent of swinging movement of the hand lever. As will be apparent, with this arrangement, after the operator has depressed the foot treadle 92 and thus caused the side grippers 12, 12 to close and apply a pull on the upper materials, he may shift the upper materials laterally of the last by manipulating the hand lever 102 so as to rock the lever 74 and displace the side grippers in directions extending heightwise of the last. To facilitate such shifting of the upper materials over the last, the operator may relieve the pull on the upper materials by slightly elevating the foot treadle before he manipulates the hand lever. When the pull is subsequently applied, the side grippers are held in the relative positions to which they were moved by the operator by the action of the friction disk 84.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawings, the block 54 is slidably supported on the upper surface of the table 14 and is held in place thereon by means of an adjusting screw 120. This screw has a threaded portion which is received in a threaded hole in the bracket 24 and a cylindrical portion which passes through a bore in the block 54. Secured to this cylindrical portion of the adjusting screw on each side of the block is a collar 122 and these collars prevent relative movement of the block axially of the screw. Hence, when this screw is rotated, as by means of a hand wheel 124 secured to its outer end, the block 54 will be shifted along on the table 14 toward or away from the bracket 24 and in this manner the relative positions of the toe and side grippers may be varied to accommodate shoes of different sizes.

As suggested above, the herein illustrated machine is intended for use in pulling the uppers of shoes over their lasts prior to the presentation of the shoe to a toe-molding machine or to a lasting machine and the manner in which the machine is thus used should be clear from the foregoing description. Although the operator may hold the upper in position after it has thus been pulled over its last while he presents the shoe to the toe-molding machine or to the toe-lasting machine, it is usually more convenient for him to utilize a clamping device for this purpose. Accordingly, the clamping device shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings has been provided. Referring to Fig. 6, this clamping device comprises a plate 130 which carries a pin 132 and to which there is fastened one end of a leaf spring 134. Adjustably secured to the other end of this leaf spring, by means of a pin 136, spring collar 138 and key hole slot 140, Fig. 5, is a resilient pad 142 provided with a leather facing 144, Fig. 6. In applying this clamping device, the operator, after pulling the upper of a shoe over its last by means of the above-described machine and while maintaining the upper under tension at the toe endof the last, and also at the sides of the last if the side grippers are utilized, inserts the pin 132 into the pin hole or spindle hole 150 of the last with the right-hand end of the spring 134, which is fastened to the plate 130, in engagement with the top of the cone of the last and with the spring 134 and pad 142 swung over to one side or the other of the shoe. Then, while flexing the spring 134 with his hand, the operator swings the pad 142 over the toe end of the last and releases the spring so that it forces the pad yieldingly against the upper materials to clamp them against the last in the manner shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. The pressure exerted by the operator on the last may now be relieved to cause the toe grippers to open and, if the side grippers have been utilized they may be opened by release of the foot treadle. Now the shoe may be presented directly to a toe-molding machine or to a toe-lasing machine or, if desired, placed temporarily on a shoe rack. In either case, the clamping device serves to hold the upper in position on its last until the upper materials are subsequently molded at the toe line of the last and/or secured to the sole member A in the course of the lasting operation.

As suggested above, the upper-pulling machine of this invention may be used for pulling over the uppers of conventional shoes of the stitchdown type and also for pulling over the uppers of certain kinds of slip-lasted shoes. It will be appreciated, of course, when used for pulling over the uppers of conventional stitchdown shoes, that both the toe grippers 10, 10 and also the side grippers 12, 12 will be utilized by the operator. However, when this machine is used for pulling over the uppers of closed-toe sliplasted shoes of the type disclosed in the patent to Parrelli, referred to above, in which the upper has been previously secured to a sock lining along both sides of the shoe up to locations adjacent to the toe end of the last, it will be impractical to apply a pull on the upper materials at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last. Accordingly, in operating on this type of shoe, the operator will have no occasion to utilize the side grippers 12, 12 and he will permit them to remain in their inactive and open posi- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts,

a pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in difierent locations on the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, each of said grippers including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws in crossed-over relation, and abutments carried by said,

operating arms, said abutments providing means for clos- 5 ing the jaws of the grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be manually swung by an operator to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last.

2. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations on the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, each of said grippers including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, oper- Asa ating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws, in crossed-over relation, and abutments having operating surfaces of limited area carried by said operating arms, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the grippers on the upper materials, in response to pres- .sure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be manually swung by an operator to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last.

3. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in dilferent locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in diiferent locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said jaws and abutments carried by said arms, and operatorcontrolled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pullfor stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

4. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in different locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws in crossed-over relation and abutments carried by said arms, and operator-controlled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

5. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in difierent locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in different locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws and abutments having operating surfaces of limited area carried by said arms, an operator-controlled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

6. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts,

a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in difierent locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws in crossed-over relationship and abutments having operating surfaces of limited area carried by said arms, and operator-controlled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

7. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in different locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws and abutments carried by said arms, operator-controlled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, and additional operator-controlled means for effecting relative displacement of the second pair of grippers equally and oppositely in directions extending heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

8. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in different locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws in crossed-over relation and abutments carried by said arms, operator-controlled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, and additional operator-controlled means for effecting relative displacement of the second pair of grippers equally and oppositely in directions extending heighwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

9. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in different locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws and abutments having operating surfaces of limited area carried by said arms, operatorcontrolled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, and additional operator-controlled means for effecting relative displacement of the second pair of grippers equally and oppositely in directions extending heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

10. In a machine for use in pulling uppers over lasts, a first pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials of a shoe in different locations at the opposite sides of a last adjacent to its toe end, a second pair of grippers adapted to seize the upper materials in different locations at the opposite sides of the forepart of the last rearwardly of its toe end and movable heightwise of the last to exert a pull on the upper materials, said first pair of grippers each including a fixed jaw and a movable jaw pivoted thereon, operating arms extending inwardly from said movable jaws in crossed-over relation and abutments having operating surfaces of limited area carried by said arms, operator-controlled means for causing said second pair of grippers to close and to move heightwise of the last, and additional operator-controlled means for effecting relative displacement of the second pair of grippers equally and oppositely in directions extending heightwise of the last, said abutments providing means for closing the jaws of the first pair of grippers on the upper materials, in response to pressure of the bottom of the last thereon, and thereafter serving as fulcra about which the last may be swung by the operator to cause the first pair of grippers to apply a pull for stretching the upper materials over the last and on which the last is supported against the pull applied to the upper materials by said second pair of grippers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,737,012 Jorgensen -a Nov. 26, 1929 

